Long automated driving phase affects take-over performance

• Published in: IET intelligent transport systems Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 1249 - 1255
• Main Authors: Bourrelly, Aurore, Jacobé de Naurois, Charlotte, Zran, Asmae, Rampillon, Felicie, Vercher, Jean-Louis, Bourdin, Christophe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Institution of Engineering and Technology 01.08.2019
• Subjects: continuous automated driving phase; driver drowsiness; driver information systems; driving performance; dynamic simulator; long automated driving phase; nondriving task; quality factor; reaction time; road safety; shorter autonomous period; Special Section: Selected papers from the 6th International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention (DDI2018); take‐over performance; take‐over request; nondriving task; dynamic simulator; road safety; driver drowsiness; quality factor; driving performance; shorter autonomous period; long automated driving phase; driver information systems; reaction time; continuous automated driving phase; take-over request; take-over performance
• ISSN: 1751-956X; 1751-9578; 1751-9578
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-its.2019.0018

The authors investigated the impact of automated driving phases of different durations (long versus short) on take-over performance and driver state. About 30 participants drove on a dynamic simulator under autonomous mode for three successive periods of automated driving: a short (10 min), a long (1 h) and another short (10 min) period, each ending with a take-over request. They performed a non-driving task, watching a film of their choice, throughout the autonomous phases. Driving performance – reaction time and quality – and driver drowsiness were assessed at each take over. About 1 h of automated driving affected the driver's behaviour, leading to poorer take-over performance (longer reaction time and sharper avoidance manoeuvre) and increased drowsiness compared with a shorter autonomous period. Results also suggest that sequencing the autonomous phase in several short periods should improve the driver's take-over performance and help prevent drowsiness. Their findings sound a warning on the risks associated with long phases of automated driving. In particular, they provide evidence that a series of short periods of automated driving is preferable to a long, continuous automated driving phase.